The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-16
PRECIOUS AMBERoRIS.
A Csstly waif OF the Sea Occasionally >
Found Floating on the Water.

| A Csstly waif OF the Sea Occasionally
Found Floating on the Water.
Tuo sailors entered wholesale drug
storr on lower Nassau street the other
day. carrying with them a parcel which
they handled as carefully as u young
mother fondles her infant. They
thought they had piece of ambcrgris,
which Is n very costly substance usually
found in the belly of a dyspeptic whale.
They were confident they had some-
thing worth about 100000, but upon
examination, unfortunately. it was
found to be only hardened tallow mixed
with dirt and salt-about rs valuable
as a chattel mortgage on flock OF
pigeons. The Captain could not believe
in the experts Judgment. and went out.
still clutching his long-guarded treas
ure and expressing his dissatisfaction
with q liberal use OF profanity. Similar
mistakes to the one already described
are often made in this city. The pro-
prietor of the store spoke of the history
and uses of ambcrgris as follows:
"Neahy every one is constantly using
ambergris. 1t is every day in the hands
of ladies and gentlemen throughout the
world, but comparatively few people
know any thing about it. Its origin is
disputed. Even scientists do not agree
upon its true source; and. although it
enters all houses where civilization
reaches and an immensely profitable
trade in the commodity is carried on.
nine out of ten people whom you meet
would not know what you meant if you
mentioned its name. 1t is slate-like
substance, varying in color from dark
to light gray, the darker shades, which
are also denser in fiber, being the most
valuable A piece weighing from
twenty to thirty-tive pounds is seen but
once in lifetime. The most OF it
handled by dealers is made up of pieces
only few ounces in weight. 1t is
worth to-day about $24 per ounce. and
during the last few years has sold as
high Us $40 per ounce in consequence
of its scarcity, Finding piece of
it is like finding u IS note.
You are as likely, or unlikely.
to find it in one place as in another.
There are several theories rs to its
origin, the generally-accepted one being
that it is an accumulation of secreted
and indigestible matter in the stomach
of sick whale. 1t is found all over the
globe at rare intervals by seafaring
men, either floating on the water, cast
mp on some shore or lodged inside the
whale. The greatest source of supply
is the Arctic ocean, and also the south
ern latitudcs, the usual cruising ground
of whaling vessels. The commanders
are always on the lookout for it, rs
among the superstitions of the sea it is
considered an omen of good luck for
the ship ever afterward when her master
brings home piece of ambergris. He
is always allowed a portion of the
profits. You could put piece wortl,
$4,000 in your overcoat pocket, and
from this you can understand how the
toilers of the ocean never cease their
vigilance in hunting for it.
''The fact that it is the most efficient
known substance in producing the
lasting quality in perfumery, gives it it,
enormous commercial value. Civet and
musk are used for the same purpose
but are not so powerful. When per
fume is made, white rose, cassia or
heliotrope, for example, the odor of thu
flowers would quickly pass away. n
the spirits forming the body of th'
liquid evaporate. Ambergris. however
prevents this. and is the indispensable,
boon that holds back the scent for day:
and weeks upon the handkerchief
When treated with alcohol it divide
itself up into an almost initiate
number of fine particles, which
are mixed in the pcrfumery and re.
main on the fabric after the spirit.
, have evaporated, acting as minute reser-
voirs and holding the pure essence OF
, flower after the cloth is perfectly dry.
One ounce dissolved in a gallon of alco
hol will make u strong tincture, ant
you would be required to Use only {;
single ounce of this tincture in a gallon
| of perfumery; which conveys an idea OF
how far few ounces of ambergris will
90. Its production is limited to II few
pounds per year, whereas it is the mos
important factor in the manufacture of
: millions of gallons of perfumery. When
large piece is found the news of thu
discovery is telegraphed to dealers and
the markets of the world are affected
In one instance New York firm, some
years ago. bought up a large portion OF
} the existing supply. and realized large
! ly on the corner thus produced. Boston
is the most influential center, rs New
. Bedford, near at hand, sends out more
whaling ships than any other city
of any country. The owners of thu
ships sell the ambcrgris to the whole
. sale dealers, and although all larg
drug stores keep little on hand, it i,
bought directly from the wholesale mel
} by the perfumery manufacturers. "
~. v Matt and ErpreSs.
Lightning Rod Protection.